AT only 17-years of age, Jorga Attard’s community work and selfless attitude has led to an honourable award, which has added to her already stellar reputation.
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The MacKillop school captain was awarded the Gordon Wilkes Shield for the Youth of the Year by Tacking Point Lions Club at an assembly on Wednesday morning (February 22).
It was a part of the Youth of the Year competition, which recognised her volunteer work and overall work in the local community.
Mal Murray, the club chairperson for the Youth of the Year and the coordinator for the regional Youth of the Year competition said Jorga was a role model for other students.
“The award is recognition of two things; the first that she is developing and growing as a person and secondly as recognition for the amount of work she does as a young person in the community,” he said.
“What I notice most about Jorga is her humility. However, putting the award aside she is a wonderful young person.
“My favourite film is ‘Pay it Forward’ which entails doing favours for people and not wanting anything back for it, only for them to help others as well.
“Jorga has that concept. She is natural leader. She has younger students in the school coming to her for mentoring, for projects and for jobs.”
Mr Murray said it is important to highlight the good things, not just about Jorga, but many other students and young people who are doing great things in the community.
For Jorga, she is on the ball when it comes to sporting, cultural and leadership positions in the community.
“The volunteering aspect is what appeals to me, and that is what I spoke about in my interview for the Youth of the Year award,” she said.
“I love to volunteer with my dad’s work at Hastings District Respite and in my nanna’s nursing home. I was so shocked and very pleased to receive this award.”
The next stage will be against people from all over the state who have won their respective region’s Youth of the Year shield.
“Mal Murray has been great. He has been a father-figure throughout the entire competition and has been a big help,” Jorga said.
“I would love to move in with my sister in Queensland to pursue medicine once I have finished school.”